The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
dent is suggestive Of an approaching political
revolution throughout the South. -Phliadelphla
North American.
INDIANA POLITICS.
The Feeling of Independents yoters-A Good

The Feeling of Independents voters-A Good
Prospect for Republicans Next Year.
Indianapolis Correspondence N. y. Evening Post.
The indications now are that the Republicans
will win in Indiana next year with comparative
ease. 1t is true that this prediction is in great
measure based upon the theory that what ought
to be will be; but somehow-probably because
the State is close one-the facts in the history
of Indiana to bear the theory out
Then the independents or course always vote
with the party deserving victory, and there are
a good many independent voters IN Indiana
certainly enough of them TO turn the scale every
time In 1884 the Democrats carried the State
by $500; two years later the Republican State
ticket elected by about 5000 majority.
Here is a change of $500 votes. This shows
that there are a large mum Der of men IN indiana
who, though they may not be Inugwumps In the
technical sense of that term, nevertheless vote
as they think best quite regardless of party con-
siderations. And things stand to day these
Independents and mugwumps are in pretty close
sympathy with the Republicans.
In the first place, they agree with Mr.. Curtis
that Nj. Clevelands administration caEnot be
said to be civil service reform administration.
They go further than Mr.. Curtis goes, however
Certainly it would be hard to show that he had
kept his promises. Whet her this has been be-
cause he would not could not do 1t is the gues-
ton; the fact remains that he has not done it.
This will be pretty generally admitted by those
who at all posted on Indiana polite; it is not
therefore, worth while to stop to prove ad-
mitted fact. Here, then, is one reason why the
Republican, may count upon the Independents
next year Mr. Cleveland has ignored them
utterly, and they propose. if the Republicans
will allow them to do So to ignore him. He has
made blunder after blunder and has refused to
correct single one of them; the indepe ndents
intend to have these blunders corrected. So
much for national affairs.
When we turn to local matters we find reasons
as thick as black berries why the Indiana Democ-
racy should be defeated in the coming national
campaign. 1t has encouraged Mr. Cleveland in
his violations of his promises and OF the law,
and it has abused him outrageously on those rare
occasions when he seemed inclined to stand by
his pledges. The evils of congressional patron
age were never more marked than they are now.
The State is virtually owned by Voorhees,, Mat
son, Holman and Bynum. and they have filled
the public service with a host OF incapables.
Lowry of the Fort Wayne district was
blushing in the exercise of his appointing
power" that he was beaten at the last election.
though his district was Overwhelmingly Demo
cratic.
The Democratic party has shown its contempt
for civil service reform whenever it has had the
chance. The story of the State benevolent aud
penal institutions has been told in the columns
of the Evening Post. It is bad enough The
southern penitentiary could not be. and so it
nor, defended. The insane hospital was not
so bad for the simple reason that the trustees
fooled in the whom they appointed
superintendent, and he has done his best to man
age things decentlv. AS a result he IS to be re-
moved by the Democratic board of trustees.
He is himself Democrat But the Democratic
press throughout the State has, with exceptions
to make them remarkable, defended
every act of the trustees, and has denounced In
unmeasured terms those who sought to clean
things up. Yet the against the hospital
management was conclusively proved. The law
under which the benevolent institutions operate
was passed by a Democratic Legislature with
the avowed purpose of making those institutions
a part of the Democratic machine-as odious a
law in its way as ever was passed by iegsla-
tive body.
But it would take too long to go through this
record. 1t is enough say that a Democrat
do nothing so bad-except to Ego back" on
the party-that acknowledgements will not apollo
eize for him, and seek to palliate even his
the recent trial of nine Democrats for election
frauds last fall The jury disagreed because
the Democratic members of that body couldn't
believe that Democrats could De guilty. The
crime committed it was in the interest of
Democrats; the case was clear against some at
least of the defenants. But the partisan cry
raised; it was political persecution. The
officers of the court were abused, and the court
itself was blackguarded because il had dared to
try Democrats.
Naturally then, the independents would like
to go with the Republicans next year. OF
course, they can't do it if Blaine is again the
nominee But even in that case question If
they would do much beyond voting for Mr..
Cleveland. There would be interest or en-
thusasm awakened, and they would probably
vote the Republican State ticket. They are
living in the hope that the Republicans will
give them a chance to take active part in the
fight. They don't like Cleveland. and they don't
like the Democratic party of Indiana. This be-
ing so, it would seem easy matter for the
Republicans TO win their support in 1888. Will
they think it worth while to try it,
AS L have sad-and In all That say nave
special reference TO Indana-Mr. Blaine would
not do Nor would the ticket nominated by the
New York 1ndependent-which,b by the way has
no right to speak for the mugwumps-do much
better. Senator Sherman may be state sman;
indeed l should be loath to deny him title
which means so little nowadays. Statesman or
not, be is the champion of several schemes which
are very distasteful to those who believe that
there is such thing scientific government
man who would remove the tax on whisky
and tobacco abolish the duty sugar, and
make up the loss to the planters by paying
them bounties, foist upon the country
tional educational system, and in other ways
extend the scope of governmental action and
magnify the central authority, is far from being
al ideal candidate. Then his sudden change of
front on the Southern estIon-ad hitting that
there is such question-left him in rather
ridiculous position. And it very cruel for
the Independent to yoke Mr.. Sherman with Sen
ator Hawley, man Numerically opposed to
him almost all economic and political ques-
lions. Hawleys name would look better at the
head of the ticket. Still, great is the dissatis
faction with the Democratic party, Mr.. Sherman
could probably carry Indiana.
There is time enough. however. to talk about
candidates. What the Indiana independents
would like see is some faint indication that
the blican party appreciates its opportunity
They have as yet seen nothing of the kind.